sceptic

I appreciate I was in a good spot, I still can't quite get my head around why some of you think a/. 1NT is a non starter (even without a spade stopper, I had 2 very nice cards and I did not think pass was a good option, nor did I think going to the 2 level was the right thing to do) ( I realise this may have worked out ok on this hand, but I am looking to understand why this is bad in general? b/. 2 Diamonds is a good bid? c/. AX is not a good stopper against 3NT where the opps have that suit bid and supported, what do you think the 3 spade bid should have shown (is it forcing), I bid like this on occasions and I know I have made a bad call, but I was not sure of the alternatives and I am not even sure of the correct meaning (help me here if you can please) d/. why is 19 hcp balanced a good opener in SAYC, I thought the point range was 20-21 or 20 - 22? (or even 2/1 I think)

yes I know it was not a good slam, I was just curious as I thought my p may have a singleton (which raises another question) should I have assumed my p had singleton spade)

I wonder if it is possible for fred or Uday, to limit the size of tourneys dependant on the amount of TD's? or dependant on whether or not the TD is playing?

[hv=d=s&v=a&n=s96h53dat9542ck62&w=skq853hq97d8ct985&e=sjt42hj82dqj3cq74&s=sa7hakt64dk76caj3]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - - 1♥ 1♠ 1NT 2♠ 3♠ Dbl 4♦ Pass 5♦ Pass Pass Pass I think the bidding was ok (feel free to disagree) , how do you get to slam???

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=saj72hdaq87cakq64&w=sq653hk98dj54ct95&e=st984h42dkt32c872&s=skhaqjt7653d96cj3]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - Pass 1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 3♥ Pass 4♦ Pass 4♥ Pass 6♥ Pass Pass Pass

I like the Sky Club tourneys, I have not played in many but, what I have played in have been a pleasant way to spend some time. Growing Sky Club. maybe ask fred to allow less Pay Tourneys, I think there are far to many and they all aim for the same type of person, masterpoint collectors and the odd hustler after a few bucks in prize money. Everyone, seems to concentrate on giving away prize money (ACBL I think are the only exceptions, they would rather give away points(not sure what good they are as most of the people with lots of them don't really care about them)), I would rather have a hand synopsis after the event, than points or prizes, may be the hands could be pre dealt and an analysis by one of your experts emailed to all participants after the event, you may even be able to charge a premium for this, once a week would be nice, my personal opinion is that this may well be something you can build on.

Pard never directly raised hearts, so he felt he had to introduce his Spades, then he has shown heart support, not raised to game, which I would have thought was easy to bid as you are vuln, I cant see what purpose there is to bid 3NT here without a club control of your own. as if he was interested in NT he could show clubs or lack of diamond control somehow. I think showing another major then supporting hearts is not the way to NT

[hv=d=w&v=a&n=saqhaq32dqj763ck7&w=sj9764hdat9842cq5&e=st85h8765dk5cj963&s=sk32hkjt94dcat842]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South 2♠ 3NT Pass 4♥ Pass Pass Pass look what we missed, a few questions 1/. what do you need to bid 3NT over weak 2 2/. should I x 3/. should p do more 4/. what do you think of this weak two 5/. anything else I missed Thanks

on 2 boards they went down 1 both diff leads I need to look at boards again

[hv=d=e&v=a&n=sq6ht9853d97ca984&w=sakt9843hkq62dqc6&e=sj5ha74dakj3cqt32&s=s72hjdt86542ckj75]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - 1NT Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass 4♣ Dbl 4♦ Pass 6♠ Pass Pass Pass how reasonable was my x of clubs, it cost us I think another lead maybe they go down one

I cant say 4 aces and 2 kings is always a cold 3nt (it may be this time, but I bet the odds are against you, just one card adrift on clubs and after a major lead you are probably down, I think 3 clubs is a good contract

This won't work until people stop lying about their skill level

That is your opinion, why then do so many still enter tourneys with a playing TD (this is my pet hate), why do they enter so many tourneys with (alegedly) bad TD's may be the answer is they just want to play some stable games with their p, or it is a good place to meet future friends and partners. I believe there is room for all, so organise TD training, I think I am swayed by that arguement as a positive move forward, maybe it would be a step forward in a more pleasant environment. OR run a tourney as a competant TD and get some one like me that does not mind doing the odd tourney and I can get subs, help out etc etc and leave the technical stuff to the experts and perhaps learn in the process. Stop belittling a TD for trying to run a tourney how he wants, if you don't like it . don't play in his tourneys, avoid the TD's you think are bad. just an aside, when was the last post complaining about a TD for a favorable judgement? when it was not deserved

YES, I would be more than happy to learn, if a chance is available, which kind of goes against my previous statement, but what The heck, men are supposed to be Hypocrits :)

Jilly would appear one of the exceptions, she does seem to care a great deal about learning, it still is not apparent why people complain about standards of TD's when once they know who the bad ones are they can avoid them. it really is that simple, I have no desire to be a competant TD, but I do enjoy running the odd quickie tourney and from comments rec from players they are welcomed even when I announce non proffesional TD and I will adjust only if I can see it is obvious. So supply and demand rules, there is space for less serious tourneys and there should be room for all, I disagree that we should all have to take some competency test, that is my opinion and I can live happily with it

actually I would be interested in the analogies, if you care to dispute my somewhat (I think quite conservative guess at 90%) Candy, I am very impressed, first time I have seen someone prepared to do something positive about an issue another idea would be to compile a list of qualified TD's available online and that way, one can, if ones so wishes, only enter these tournaments. I personally think (this is something I have never done, but I may do it in the furure as the issues that need addressing in the Tournamnets are far worse for directors than a bad ruling or two for a player) restrict free tourneys to friends only and create a blacklist of players that you can prevent entering your tourneys (the list may well be of horendous size and I doubt BBO has the server space available to keep track of all results orientated deserters). also online, there may not be enough time to resolve issues in a timely manner and in defence of some TD's that may have made a bad decision, I am sure unless you run a Tournamnet online yourself, (with time restrictions and a host of people wanting the TD at the same time as a few disconnects) you are not always being fair to the TD's (they seem to come under a lot of critisism here. I do recall a long time ago, a very well respected person that frequents these forum walls, directing and unless I am mistaken, he or she gave it up out of frustration, which is a great shame (it is not as easy as you think, online has its own issues not available to a F2F director. p.s nicf (sorry none of this is in answer to your original post)

As for setting standards for TD's online, do it and 90% of all the free tourneys would stop... who wants that? NOT ME

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sat4hk6dkj953cqt6&w=sj83hq9843d84cj94&e=sk9752ha7daq6ca32&s=sq6hjt52dt72ck875]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - 1♦ 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ Pass Pass Pass Do you agree with my 1 spade overcall and do you agree with my game try. I doubt you would agree with my play I went -1 lol

I opened 1 diamond with the intent purpose of bidding 2!C as a planned rebid, I did not like 1nt as a rebid as I am not balanced (Correct me if I am wrong here) diamond first then 2C has to be more informative, than club and 2 club rebid, or will this lead me to problems (as I may have lied about length in suit I do have an agreement to support with 3, with my p for a 2 spade bid, but it needs to be a good 3 (so that sort of ruled that out)

xx xxx xxxx what do you lead from these against NT and against suit specifically if on lead to pard what are the benifits of you personal perference please

If you play super accept a transfer, should you alert i.e. 1NT 2D 2H (as less than max and no 3 or 4 card support) dependant on structure of your super accepts

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=skt96hkt7dk96cj97&w=sq53haq96dt743ca6&e=sa72hj8432d52c852&s=sj84h5daqj8ckqt43]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South Pass Pass Pass 1♦ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass 2NT Pass 3♠ Pass Pass Pass Hi can you tell me what you think of 1!D opening and what you think of my decision not to bid 2 spades , but I chose to bis 2 clubs and what you thought of my 3 spade bid please and anything you think is rellevant thanks

[hv=d=e&v=n&n=sakq95h6d862ck974&w=st63ht987dakq73c2&e=s87haj32dtcaqj863&s=sj42hkq54dj954ct5]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv] West North East South - - 1♣ Pass 1♦ 1♠ 3♣ Pass Pass Pass if I had 1 less club (sitting South)and an extra spade should I bid 3 spades instead of passing

I always call you when I am desperate Miss Blue :o

AKJXXX AKXXX _ AX me to open and everyone leaves the table, I sat for 10 minutes waiting for someone to sit, to no avail. I hate this game somedays I even had nice intermediate cards